I know that Microsoft bashing is a favorite sport, and many people just shrug because they have always used MS stuff and "nothing has happen to ME yet".

I also know that it takes work (that is, looking, asking and installing) to get a PC or a browser, or an email program or a word processor that are something other than Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, MS Word..etc... "it came with my machine, and I'm used to it...why change?"

Why indeed?....well, if you will take the time to peruse a couple of sites, you 'might' see "*WHY*.....

see the article on hidden files, especially do not fret if there is technical stuff that you don't get the details of...just read the lines which make points.

some of the stuff MS & company do to ensure that the world runs THEIR way

I understand...it is LOTS of trouble in this world to totally get away from Microsoft influence and their security holes, snooping, pressure...etc., but it IS possible to avoid much of the worst abuses with a few changes. Your decision....but THESE ARE REAL PROBLEMS, even if not all of them affect YOU directly...yet!

I will not get involved in long debates, as I am not the expert....but a bit of reading convinces me that some of the information in the sites I have posted is research BY experts...see what you think.